We are excited to share with you the presenters for the 2012 conference with Jenet Erickson as our Keynote Speaker.

Jenet Erickson

Creating a Home of Learning: Out of Small Things, Proceedeth that Which is Great

Research has repeatedly shown that the home is the most natural setting for learning. This session will discuss some of those research findings and provide a variety of ideas for how to capitalize on the natural home environment to create a Home of Learning. Those ideas become transformative when they involve inspiring methods, including principle-based learning using the 4-R methodology, notebook methodology, providential timeline, and learning celebrations. These inspiring methods will be presented along with insight about how they can transform ordinary patterns of daily family life into rich and character building learning.

BioJenet Jacob Erickson teaches about the power of ordinary family rituals and routines in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. She received a PhD in Family Science at the University of Minnesota after attending American Heritage School, being homeschooled, attending a public high school and finally completing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at BYU. She grew up on a small farm in Orem where all of her 10 siblings participated in their family home school. She and her husband Michael were married in 2009 and are blessed to be the parents of their two-year-old daughter, LaDawn.

Presenter

Presentation and Bio

Tresta Neil

Seek Learning by Faith

How do you learn with Faith? When Joseph Smith went into the grove to pray, he went with the intention to get an answer to what church was true (knowledge) and which church to join (action, or what to do with that knowledge). He sought for the path and the action he should take. Learning by faith is a choice that requires action. It requires hope in the future for greater knowledge. It invites the love of God from our only true teacher, the Holy Ghost. The responsibility of learning by faith rests upon us as individuals. In this class you will learn 3 very effective tools you can take home and use in your family in helping them understand how to truly Learn by Faith.

Bio Tresta Garrett Neil is the mother of eight wonderful children and homeschools them all. After they were married and had a few children her husband, Thom, asked her to homeschool their children and after much coaxing and an LDS homeschool conference she was convinced. Homeschooling has become the best thing she has ever done for herself and her family. After living in a two bedroom basement apartment with eight children while going in and out of the hospital with her sixth son who was born without a bile duct she and her husband now live in Orem in a larger home and enjoy their healthy and wealthy life.

Thom Neil

Two Gifts that Lighten Your Load and Enlighten Your Learning

There is no greater gift you can give to your children than the package of faith and spirituality. There are four keys to unlock these gifts and flood your home(school) with spiritual light and understanding. Discover the proven process that puts those keys into your hands and encourages you and your children with the hope of success.

BioThom Neil is an enthusiastic, passionate, loyal husband to Tresta and dad to eight amazing children. He introduced homeschooling to his family and has encouraged its success in their home. Enthusiasm for life's good, passion for his family and trust in the Lord led him through the darkest of valleys including his son's liver failure and transplantation. His experiences give him insight into the eyes of those he mentors. With his passion for learning and continued education from life, he inspires other men, women and their children to a life full of transformational learning. Thom has been mentoring and training all ages in Utah for over 10 years on leadership, personal connection and life transformation.

Donna Goff

First Steps: Laying a Solid Foundation in the Pre-School YearsWhat do preschoolers (and older children just coming to home education) need to prepare them to succeed in life and learning? Where is a good place to start? How do I put in place a solid foundation? What is family work and why is it vital? What is Homeculture? What is Momculture? How do I track progress? What are commonplace books and how can I use them to simplify my life? Join me to discover the answers, resources, and more... Using the scriptures, prophets, resources from the church distribution center I will offer answers to the above questions. 1 Prayerfully decide and record 2 Check the Pulse and Create Vision 3 MAP the Journey 4 Lay the Foundation- Scriptures, Prophets, LDS Family Guide Book, Teach a Child to Read Using the Book of Mormon, The Door to My Father's Study is Always Open (aka nature studies) 5 Momculture- Mom's continuing education- the 15 minute Solution 6 Records- Journals, Book of Remembrance, Commonplace BooksBioDonna Goff and her husband Roger have seven children 13-33 and ten grandchildren under eight! She converted to the church at seventeen. Donna has home educated since 1983. She has a BA in Fine Art and Design, BYU ’80/ MA Ed., GWU ‘08. Donna has been a keynote speaker and has presented at dozens of conferences in CA, NV, UT , VA, and online since 1995. She created Momculture and Mentoring Our Own yahoo groups; founded www.moorhouseacademy.org (2002) and co-owns www.princessacademies.com (2009) with her daughter Julia Groves. Both websites were created to assist mothers in rearing, raising, and educating their children.

Mindy Heath

"Women are that they might have joy!"

Yes, that means you too! Discover How To Live With Peace, Joy and Connection In Every Area Of Your Life.Have you ever felt like you were doing all the "right" things but none of it seemed to be working? Have you ever felt not good enough or that success is for everyone else but you? Maybe you are thriving in some areas of your life but struggling in others and no matter how hard you try you don't know how to change it. And deep down you know it's taking it's toll on you, your marriage, your kids, maybe even your faith. You can have peace, joy and connection no matter what is going on around you! Discover the key to "BE"ing who Heavenly Father created you to be and all the joy and healing that follows!

BioMindy Heath is a joyful wife and mother of four who has been homeschooling for 12 years. With a degree from BYU in Family Sciences and a passion for helping women put their hearts and lives in order, Mindy has been inspiring others through one on one mentoring, group programs and public speaking for 7 years. Personally she has dealt with and overcome health, financial, self worth, relationship and other struggles. Through her personal learning and healing she has learned how to live joyfully every single day no matter what challenges arise. Her passion is showing others to do the same. Discover Your Worth, Live Your Truth is her motto! Mindy is the creator of LivingtheJoyfulLife.com and with her dear husband HealingMarriages.com

Myra Johnson

Mothers, The Heart of Homeschooling

As mothers we have great power, more power than perhaps most of us realize. We have the tremendous privilege as mothers, and an even greater privilege as homeschooling mothers, to influence and directly affect our family’s progression and happiness here on earth, as well as our eternal salvation. Motherhood can be very difficult. Homeschooling our children can be even more difficult. I believe that as we begin to learn who we truly are as women, understanding our eternal identity, and also learning what we are to do here on earth, we will gain tremendous power in our own lives as well in our family’s lives. Come, let us strengthen our understanding of how we, as mothers, are the heart of homeschooling.

Bio Myra Johnson is a happy wife and the joyful mother of five fabulous children, ages 6-21: four boys with a little girl at the end. She has been homeschooling for 18 years and has been blessed to see many wonderful fruits of her labors. She centers her homeschool around the gospel of Jesus Christ, and employs the TJEd methodology. She considers motherhood to be one of her greatest blessings, and her ability to homeschool her children a tremendous gift.

Patrice Fairbanks

Lessons In Faith From Our Founding Fathers & Mothers

Seeking to learn more of the faith of those who founded the USA? Awaken to truths about who those amazing people were, the courageous founding fathers and mothers of our nation. We know much about the men. Who were the women who gave them birth, taught them, stood by their sides, sacrificed and even shed their blood in fighting for the freedoms which brought forth the Greatest Nation on earth? Through our gratitude for them, how can we maintain and protect those freedoms?

BioI was raised in a large Gospel-centered family, 1 of 9 children, where education was a high priority. My parents also taught us from a very young age to love our heritage and to be proud to be Americans and to how blessed land with a Divinely inspired Constitution.We were taught to be patriotic, to love patriots, our flag, the beautiful music of our country and to give voice to the "red, white & blue" blood that flows in our veins, and that the founding of this country was essential for the Gospel to be restored.

Sherri Boekweg

Bring the Fun Back into Homeschool! As parents we nurture our children. If getting your children to “do their schoolwork” is causing you stress and straining the parent-child relationship, then it is time to lighten up and bring the fun back into home school. This is a hands-on participation class with lots of ideas for activities, games, songs and creative ways for learning and practicing skills in the core subjects that are often done with worksheets and a lot of seat-work. Most of the ideas presented will be geared for the elementary grades but will also include some ideas for making learning fun in middle-school grades as well. So come ready to get in the action and make learning and reviewing fun and nurturing.

BioSherri Boekweg has been homeschooling for 18 years understands the challenges that come with trying to teach our children, especially ones that do better with active learning than with seatwork and worksheets. She has always tried to find ways to make learning fun, and she has written many educational songs and created games and activities that she has used with her children throughout the years. Sherri is the mother of four daughters, and is currently homeschooling her youngest, who are 13-year old twins. She lives in Mount Pleasant, Utah.

Regan Barnes

A House of Order I will share how my children and I make the gospel an integral part of our lives, patterning our systems after Heavenly Father's systems! I will help you recognize how Heavenly Father helps us grow in certain ways, through routines and order... Then I will help you figure out how to keep similar order in your own homeschool routine. When we strive to make our home a heaven on earth, then we (both as parents and children in the family) can be homeschooled by Heavenly Father himself through the Holy Ghost!Bio Regan Barnes simply loves to share all that she is learning in her life journey. She is blessed with a fabulous husband and together they have six children ranging from eight months to eleven years old. She likes to pull from a variety of educational philosophies and pick and choose what works best for her individual children, with the Holy Ghost as the main sounding board! She graduated from Indiana University, served a mission in Russia, and then got her MRS. at BYU while taking the classes geared toward future seminary teachers.

Ruel Haymond

Sensing Truth and Sniffing Tyranny in the 21st CenturyMy presentation will focus on demonstrating the power of memorization, the 4Ring Methodology (Research, Reason, Relate and Record using Moroni 10:3-5) and how to inspire students and parents to "sniff tyranny" as Americans did in the past and work to protect liberty in 2012. This presentation will inspire. :)

Bio All who know Ruel Haymond will tell you how passionate he is about education, principle-based teaching and the Restored Gospel. With experience as the former principal at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, UT, and also as an instructor at Bear River High School (Garland, UT), Aspen Academy (Payson, UT) and the Founders Commonwealth (Payson, UT, homeschool cooperative), Ruel is a devoted teacher with a deep love of God, family and country. Having graduated from Utah State University with degrees in Family Science and Spanish, Ruel went on to complete a Masters Degree in Instructional Technology at USU and studied Constitutional Law at George Wythe College. Ruel is a teacher of many talents - not the least of which is his great gift for educating hearts and connecting with students on a spiritual level. Ruel and his wife Tresa are the parents of 7 children.

Keith Lockhart

Education in ZionLDS parents have moved beyond home school, and now look to educate their children in Zion. This means an entirely new educational paradigm, recognizing that in Zion things just aren’t done the way they are in Babylon. Many of the headaches home school parents encounter can be alleviated or avoided all together by looking at home education with a new perspective. This is an introduction to new thinking in the field of education. More information available at InfoComXL.com (categories: home school, education, education in Zion)

BioKeith Lockhart, together with his wife, Holly, who, like Mary Poppins, is “practically perfect in every way,” have educated their ten children at home. They began in 1982, before home school was a universally recognized term, before even home schoolers recognized the term. Keith is a writer and educator, having been a teacher and administrator in both public and private schools. He has also worked in schools in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

Audrey Rindlisbacher

"Harmonizing 'Religious' and 'Secular' Study"

In a world where the religious and the secular are intentionally separated, it can be difficult to know how to harmonize them. The Lord tells us that all things are spiritual to Him. He also teaches us that all truth is connected. What, then, are the mental and spiritual tools for discovering truth, connecting it to all areas of life and applying it to ourselves? Come learn how simple this process is and how it will revolutionize your education!

BioAudrey Rindlisbacher has a liberal arts degree from George Wythe University where she has taught government, economics, literature and study skills. She is co-founder of the Ten Boom Institute where she teaches men and women of all ages the skills of lifelong learning. She is the author of a popular set of articles on the skills necessary for classical or liberal education. She and her husband Blaine are the homeschooling parents of 6 children.

Eric Heath

Becoming a Powerful and Courageous Man

Is your life what you want it to be? Does your life feel mediocre, yet you know you are meant for more? Are your relationships with your spouse, children, and friends amazing or do you just exist in the same space? There are key things in life that we must understand completely if we want to be the men Heavenly Father created us to be. 1) What is Christ's Atonement truly about and do we FULLY receive that blessing, 2) What does it mean to be a son of God? and 3) How do we overcome the weaknesses that have held us down for so long and keep men down in general? Eric Heath is a husband and father that has lived through many of the challenges you are facing. He has learned specific tools to move from a life of mediocrity to being the man Heavenly Father had in mind. These truths will encourage success in all areas of your life.

BioEric Heath is a husband and father of 4 amazing children. He loves learning and sharing what he has learned to those willing to listen. He loves sports and being in the outdoors. One of his favorite places to spend time is in the mountains. He currently works as a financial adviser and enjoys discussing politics and money.

Telsie Graziano

Is Homeschooling Really for Me?

Are you thinking about homeschooling your children? Do you wonder if YOU can do it? These are the questions I asked myself a year ago when I was thinking about homeschooling. I no longer have anxiety over whether homeschool is the answer or not, I KNOW it is! How did I come to this conclusion and gain this confidence? By following the spirit. In this class you will learn how to ask the right questions, how to receive the answers to your prayers, how to teach your children with the spirit and gain confidence is doing so.

BioAs a leader in several young women's organizations, Telsie Graziano demonstrated a unique ability to connect on a personal level that has left an impactful and life changing imprint on young women's lives. She is now taking her passion to teach and coach to mothers and daughters to help them remember their self-worth and to build confidence to overcome the mental and emotional barriers preventing them from embracing all the possibilities of life. Telsie is married to Paul and between the two of them they have a total of 7 children. She enjoys homeschooling her 2 youngest children, singing, scrapbooking, speaking and being outdoors.

Lauri Updike

BioLauri Updike was born in Alberta, Canada. She is the oldest daughter of Wilson and Idona Lauritzen. She graduated from BYU in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in English and German. She is the mother of three sons, four daughters, and ten beautiful grandchildren. Mrs. Updike is passionately involved in church, politics, civic affairs, and education. For the past 35 years Mrs. Updike has been an advocate of principle-based education. She home schooled her own children from 1985-1999, took part in a High School Co-op - Christian Co-operative Learning Center from 1999-2002, has been a Teacher Trainer for Utah Boys Ranch, and the in-service Director for American Heritage School. She enjoys the privilege of teaching her scholars at American Heritage School. Each summer she conducts American Heritage Tours for students and their families to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Mrs. Updike loves to read, research, hike, travel and eat cookies.

Nicholeen Peck

The Key to Building Youth, Instead of Teens

Through most of a child's young years, the mother plays a crucial role in development. As children get older, they begin to look to their fathers as role models for their lives. Learn the best strategies to prepare yourself and your children for that journey. These strategies will inspire you and transform your children into youth, not teenagers. Come and see why.

BioNicholeen Peck is the mother of four and previous foster parent of many difficult and troubled teens. The Peck family's success with these difficult children was based upon calmness, the principles of self government, and good communication. She has been teaching people around the world the principles of Self-Government since 1999. She recently returned from a Self-Government teaching tour in China. In 2009, Nicholeen and her family were featured in a one hour BBC documentary about parenting. She has appeared on various news shows and radio programs to discuss effective parenting. She is a popular public speaker, author of the books, Parenting a House United, Londyn LaRae Says Okay, Timeless Principles of Raising Great Kids, many magazine articles, and a parenting blog called http://TeachingSelfGovernment.com .

This can be an agonizing question for a homeschool mom! What do you do if your child isn’t interested in college? What are the options if they have hands-on skills instead of academic skills? Or maybe both? Education is important, but not everyone is college material, right? What’s a mom to do? This class will help you maneuver the mine field of possibilities.

BioDana and her husband Spencer have been homeschooling since 1985, back when homeschooling wasn't cool. Dana read John Holt's book Teach Your Own when she was first married and decided homeschooling was what she was going to do with her children. They have 10 children, eight boys and two girls, and have graduated six from their homeschool. She and her family have followed her military husband back and forth across the country, leaving homeschool co-ops in their wake. They have lived in diverse places as West Virginia, New Jersey and Alaska. Now that Spencer is retired they have settled in Rigby, Idaho. Dana enjoys all the fiber arts (knitting, spinning and weaving) as well as quilting and sewing. She wishes she had more time for her hobby farm, reading and gardening. Dana has worked with LDSHE since 2005 and is also the editor and a writer for the LDSNHE Newsletter The Sentinel.

Chad Watterson

Turning boys into men of GodDoes it concern you that males in their 20's and 30's are playing video games all day? Some males in our society seem to be floundering. They are the subjects of jokes on television. Their traditional role has been marginalized. Many are of adult age, but they do not behave like men, they behave like boys. Historically, teen aged boys in our society were regularly taking on the role of men, hacking a living out of the wilderness and taking on personal and familial responsibilities. We see this same pattern in the church and the scriptures as well. The Lord has often called youth to do great works for Him. He gives priesthood power and responsibilities to twelve year olds. He wants to help you raise boys that become men. If you are raising and educating boys that you want to become Godly men instead of boys in an adult body, come join Chad Watterson for a lively discussion of what it takes to turn boys into men of God. Learn patterns from the scriptures and examples from history on what it takes to turn a boy into a man.

BioChad Watterson has been a leader in the church Young Men's program for the last 18 years, mentoring young men in Utah, Colorado and Nevada. He is the father of 3 boys who know how to step up and do hard things for God and family. He resides in Wanship, UT with his wife, sons, two collie dogs, a milk cow and his prized garden.

Karen Arnesen

Literature

Reading and discussing great literature is a wonderful way to solidify family faith and values. This presentation will focus on three works of literature from three age groups, showing how to use each as a way to build faith in children and acting as a template for discussion and learning from other books.

BioI have seven children and have been home schooling for 26 years and teach a 5-year home school literature class that culminates in the students taking the AP exam in English literature. I write literature and history curricula for American Heritage Schools and love books and learning truths from them.

Von Hansen

Wilford Woodruff's Vision of the Founders and its Implications for us Today

Who appeared to Wilford Woodruff in 1877?Why did they appear at that time?What implications does that have for us today?We will explore how finding answers to these questions can help us gain a gospel perspective of learning history through study, and faith and help us discover and fulfill our personal missions today.

BioEver since hearing Neal A. Maxwell speak on the 200th anniversary of the US Constitution, a desire to learn about God's hand in the establishment of our land of liberty has burned in Von's heart. This has led him to a BA in History at BYU, graduate studies in Political Economy at George Wythe University, and the creation of his Providential History Series -- courses in history focusing on God's Hand and our personal missions. He is married to the lovely, courageous, ambitious, talented, and energetic Amy Hansen whom God raised up to form a perfect compliment to his own talents and abilities (although he has a hard time keeping up with her). Together they are raising and homeschooling 7 amazing children.

Michelle Stone

Celestial Education: the 4th StageWhy are we here? As believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, this question has some profound and significant answers that should not be ignored. Come prepared for an intense, eye-opening, and fun journey through the scriptures to discover why we are really here and how that should shape our education.

BioMichelle Stone is the happy wife of Shane, and mother of their (soon to be) nine children. Ever since her baptism by fire into motherhood (four children under three) she has sought truth and direction for their, and her own, education. She is always happy to share what she has learned so far.

Reed Hansen

Book of Mormon Geography

Explore the Book of Mormon geography in a relative geography setting. All locations will be given in relation to each other without trying to pin down the actual location. Various theories will be explored. Using the Book of Mormon, the locations of cities, hills, rivers, and major geographical locations will be examined. The location of battles (not for cities), major migrations of peoples, missionary journeys, cities with walls, temples, synagogues, and prisons will be explored. We will be using Scripture Creations Book of Mormon Study map as the basis for the class.

BioYour short bio - Reed Hansen is the owner of Scripture Creations which produces maps, charts, study aids, and games for the LDS market. He has an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Information Systems from Weber State University. Scripture Creations' Book of Mormon Study Map may be the best selling Book of Mormon Map in the Church having sold over 20,000 copies.

Barbara McOmber

Ballroom Dance InstructionBioBarbara is a Brigham Young University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Home and Family Living Studies. While attending BYU, Barbara danced on the Ballroom Tour Team where she spread her love of dance and the gospel while touring the South Pacific in Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii. She and her dance partner competed in the National Dancesport competitions for years. It was at BYU where Barbara met her husband Art. She said “he swept me off my feet!” After leaving Utah, they lived in Southern California where Art worked as a Special Agent for the FBI and they had 4 wonderful children. In 2005, they moved to Cedar Hills, UT where Barbara soon began teaching Elementary Ballroom at several of the schools in the Alpine School District as well as at Challenger. Barbara has choreographed, costumed, and produced annual ballroom concerts for the past 6 years. Her competition teams have reached the gold level and have placed top team overall multiple times. After having two of her children attend American Heritage she is thrilled to be a part of the American Heritage Team and teach such outstanding students.

Travis Blackwelder

Presented by Anna Borgholthaus From the Home Pad to College Grad:Preparing the Home Schooled Student for College AdmissionAs home schooling has become more and more prevalent, many families question how the decision to home school will impact college admissions. This presentation will address a few national issues surrounding college admissions and the home schooled applicant, with a specific focus on applying for admission to Brigham Young University. Among other items, participants will learn how to appropriately prepare for the college application process, strategies for showcasing their student’s educational and life experiences, and which campuses have reputations for being the most home school friendly.

Bio Travis Blackwelder is the Associate Director of Admissions for Brigham Young University. He has presented on the topic of college admissions and the home schooled student at various regional and national conferences. A native of Delta, Utah (and still a proud Rabbit), Travis earned his undergraduate degree from BYU, and a master’s degree from Harvard University. He has worked with BYU for nearly ten years. His wife, Collette, is also employed on campus as a consultant with Human Resources Development. They have been married for 16 years and reside in Provo, Utah.

Jane Mack

Nannette Wiggins

Home School the “Family School” Way

In a world where more and more families are choosing to educate their children in the home, parents are in great need of family friendly materials that can be adapted and used family style. Nannette Wiggins and Jane Mack will talk about their 25 year experience in homeschooling that brought them to the “Family School”approach to educating children in the home. They will present the American Heritage Family School concept, the gospel centered curriculum, and ideas for practical daily application of the Family School concept and materials in the home.

BioJane Neubert Mack is a native of Orem, Utah. She is married to Spencer Mack and they have 7 children and 17 grandchildren. She home schooled for over 20 years and continues to teach art in the family school to her grandchildren and nieces and nephews . She and her sister Nannette Wiggins are currently writing geography curriculum as well as helping to develop the American Heritage Family School. For two years she served as an Addiction Recovery Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is currently serving with her husband in a Japanese branch at the MTC and is studying the language herself. Jane loves doing Family History work, biking, camping, spending time with family and watching a good movie. She has a passion for life and learning.

BioNannette Neubert Wiggins and her husband Marvin live in Orem. She is the mother of five and the grandmother of fourteen. She and her husband are currently serving as missionaries in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Addiction Recovery Program. Nannette graduated in elementary education from BYU. She enjoyed home-schooled her own children for 23 years and now has the privilege of supporting her daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews as a literature teacher in the family school. She and her sister Jane Mack are currently working to develop the Family School curriculum for the American Heritage School. She loves to bike and swim and walk along (and in the river). She has a passion for writing and has enjoyed the wonderful opportunity of singing for many years with the Utah Lyric Opera Society. She loves to learn and then teach and is deeply committed to the truth that we can teach the gospel in and through all areas of learning.

Blaine Rindlisbacher

God’s Laws Bring Blessings

What are these laws? The scriptures says, “There is a law … upon which all blessings are predicated [or based] — And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law.” (D&C 130:20-21) Each of us has a unique purpose in this life. What are the laws we need to follow in order to fulfill or be blessed with that purpose? The Lord has given us many examples through His prophets both ancient and modern. They show us what the laws are and how to live by them. In this class we will read several of these laws and “see” how obedience to these laws brings forth great blessings.

BioIn addition to spending the last 12 years getting a liberal arts education, Blaine has discovered not only his own life mission, but how others can find and fulfill theirs. By finding the principles and by living them consistently, he is a living example of what he teaches and has experienced true freedom. He is the co-founder of the Ten Boom Institute which was founded on the following words of Christ: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”